Ruth Fried

Volunteer Of The Week

Where she volunteers: Fried runs City Slickers, a horseback riding program for city kids.

Why she likes to help: The program gives her students a chance to see a different side of life.

Little-known fact: She loves the theater.

Philosophy on volunteering: ``If you've taken on a responsibility in your life, you don't walk away from that responsibility at the end of the day.''

Glancing at the photos completely covering Ruth Fried's tiny office in Burns School, it's easy to see what she cares about.

Kids.

A physical education teacher for kindergarten through Grade 6, Fried runs an after-school program for about 30 students from Burns and Milner elementary schools. Most weekdays, Fried has a group of kids bused to Hillside Equestrian Meadows in Wolcott for a program she's been running since 1993: -- City Slickers.

The students, selected by principals, teachers or Fried, spend time learning to ride horses in Connecticut's countryside. The students are now in their last week of spring lessons, which will end with a horse show Saturday in Wolcott.

``Some of these kids have never left Hartford -- they don't even know there's a river here,'' Fried said.

She spends alot of time writing grant proposals, looking for funding for the program, which with busing and lessons, can get pretty costly.

``This year I wrote like 27 grants and I got funded byprobably 20 of them,'' said Fried.

Burns School Principal Irvin Guidicelli said he is amazed at the number of hours Fried dedicates to her students.

``She does this free of charge. It's outstanding,'' Guidicelli said. ``Her whole life after school and summers is committed to the program.''

Fried has done much more for her students than teach them how to ride horses. Three found a home with her through the years -- students who Fried could see had great potential, but were heading for trouble.

Luis Reyes was one.

She shared her love of horses with Reyes. Fried, who has two children of her own -- David, 28, and Lori, 24 -- gave him a home and encouragement. The high school senior has already landed a full-time job after graduation. Reyes is going to work as a farrier, a person who shoes horses.

When she has a spare moment, which is not often, Fried likes to ride her horse, travel or go to the theater.